FWIW...

https://bustingbrackets.com/2019/10/19/c...2019-20/2/

9. UNC Wilmington

2018-2019 Record: 10-23 (5-13) – Last in CAA

Good news: UNC Wilmington as a team was second in the CAA and Top 100 nationally in points per game. Bad news: They were last in the CAA and 345th nationally in terms of giving them up. In fact, almost all defensive metrics show UNCW as being a bottom-five team in the nation across the board defensively.

To make matters worse, they lose All-CAA big man Devontae Cacok to graduation and the NBA. Cacok’s numbers actually decreased from his Junior to Senior seasons, even lowering the floor of the 2018-2019 Seahawks roster. In addition to Cacok, they lost second-leading scorer Jeantal Cylla, and rotation guards Ty Taylor and Jaylen Fornes, all to transfers. Incoming transfers Mike Okauru, Carter Skaggs and Marten Linssen come to take their place.

One thing is for sure in regards to this new edition of UNCW. They will continue to take quick shots and run the offense at a rapid pace. With the inclusion of Skaggs, as well as the larger offensive role for guys like Kai Toews and Jay Estime’, expect many more threes to fly as well. However, the roster as constructed may be even worse defensively than last year. Gone are Cacok and Cylla, their two biggest rotation players, and the lane may be a runway for opposing players facing the Seahawks this season.

Sounds like a pretty objective take. I hate to say it...particularly about Fornes because I really pulled for the kid...but I think it’s addition by subtraction with he and Ty’s tansfers. It will be interesting to see this team and their defensive chemistry in a few weeks.

My defensive concern was expressed in this article IF we play the same defensive set as last year, we could be worse. BUT, it seems like we may be taking the press more seriously, and that could change our whole defensive mindset and philosophy. I still believe we will have to press for steals, deflections and TO's and not just to run clock to have a chance.

I would really like to come into this year feeling like all the experts are wrong, but I don't. Here's to hoping i'm wrong.

Kai is not even on the Jerry West Award watch list.

Could not and will not be worse. Better athletes and more of them.

(10-20-2019 12:02 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Could not and will not be worse. Better athletes and more of them.

Athletes means very little when it comes to D, certainly helps, nut not a top 5 factor at all. Look at the Wainwright and Brownell teams. They consistently stifled teams with better athletes.

Yes, bumping cutters and playing physical. I remember. Hard to get that kind of player nowadays and you need a coach that will still coach that way. Not many do at all now. Wofford played good defense last year the way it looked and were old school like that some. Texas Tech was really good too. Clemson used to be not sure now.


Still need to have good one on one defenders and I hear that Okauru is. It could be real motivating factor for a player if they're getting beat all the time or missing the boat. Hope they improve this year, I really do.